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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / February 2005First Meeting
I set up some gates in the doorway of the bedroom today for the cats to get a safe look at each other. Elwood was definitely interested in the new cat. He had his whole leg through a hole in the gate trying to paw the new cat. I don't think new cat liked that too much, because he backed up well away from the gate and just stared young Elwood down. He did a bit of meowing, and more staring, but not much else. Elwood continued to try to get to the new cat. He squeaked and pawed, but the new cat didn't want to get too close tonight. Finally Elwood tried climbing up the gates, taking both down in the process! I quickly shut the bedroom door and figured that was enough for tonight. Do you think the new cat is afraid of Elwood? It seemed that way to me. Justin (still thinking of a name for "new cat") > I set up some gates in the doorway of the bedroom today for the cats > to get a safe look at each other. Elwood was definitely interested in [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Justin > (still thinking of a name for "new cat") Well, it sounds not bad to me for a first intro. New Cat is probably a little leary. He does not sound overtly threatened, just taken aback. I would just do little intros like this for a while. Try feeding each at the same time on either side of the gate in a couple of days. >>I set up some gates in the doorway of the bedroom today for the cats >>to get a safe look at each other. Elwood was definitely interested in [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > would just do little intros like this for a while. Try feeding each at the > same time on either side of the gate in a couple of days. I was pleased with the first intro. A lot better than hissing and wanting to kill each other! The plan is to take it slow from here. I really want to keep them seperated until Feb 13th becasue new cat has roundworm parasite, and thats when he takes his last medicine dosage. Justin > I set up some gates in the doorway of the bedroom today for the cats > to get a safe look at each other. Elwood was definitely interested in [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Do you think the new cat is afraid of Elwood? It seemed that way to me. Sounds pretty good to me. I would keep trying a little more interaction each day. No hissing is a very good sign. The new cat, since he's been in that room, probably thinks of it as "his" space now and saw Elwood as an invader. You could try letting the new cat out a bit. > Justin > (still thinking of a name for "new cat") Think of one, quick! Or else you'll have a cat named NewCat like me :)  Signature-Kelly kelly at farringtons dot net "Wake up, and smell the cat food" -TMBG >> I set up some gates in the doorway of the bedroom today for the cats >>to get a safe look at each other. Elwood was definitely interested in [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > space now and saw Elwood as an invader. You could try letting the new cat > out a bit. Hi, are you suggesting switching them around, or just letting him out completely? I was going to try switching them around tonight. >>Justin >>(still thinking of a name for "new cat") > > Think of one, quick! Or else you'll have a cat named NewCat like me :) LoL! I have a few ideas spinning around.... Justin > Hi, are you suggesting switching them around, or just letting him out > completely? I was going to try switching them around tonight. Yes, so each cat doesn't think of the territory as "his" and the other cat is an invader. Signature-Kelly kelly at farringtons dot net "Wake up, and smell the cat food" -TMBG > >> I set up some gates in the doorway of the bedroom today for the cats > >>to get a safe look at each other. Elwood was definitely interested in [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > LoL! I have a few ideas spinning around.... Bob. :) > I set up some gates in the doorway of the bedroom today for the cats > to get a safe look at each other. Elwood was definitely interested in [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Do you think the new cat is afraid of Elwood? It seemed that way to me. Naa, just curious. The beauty of the gates is that the cats can approach each other as closely as they wish without danger. All to often unprotected introductions result violence that causes permenant damage to the cats' relationship. The gates allow the cats to feel secure and comfortable in each other's presence which is solid foundation for a life-long relationship. Gates are my preferred method of introduction at the shelter and at home. http://www.maxshouse.com/introducing_cats.htm > Justin > (still thinking of a name for "new cat") Joliet Jake, what else. Good luck, Phil >> I set up some gates in the doorway of the bedroom today for the cats >>to get a safe look at each other. Elwood was definitely interested in [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > http://www.maxshouse.com/introducing_cats.htm Thanks for the info. A short while later, I figured out how to secure ther gates properly, so I let them have another quick meeting. Elwood was pawing him again, same as earlier, but this time, the new cat came up and got a couple of good hits in! It was hard for me to tell if they were "play" hits or "fight" hits. Tonight I will let the new cat out, and put Elwood in the room and see how that goes. Should I switch them around daily? >>Justin >>(still thinking of a name for "new cat") > > Joliet Jake, what else. That was my first choice, but he is not a black and white tuxedo cat like Elwood so I have been trying to think of something else. I may go with that anyhow because as I get to know him, it kind of fits him. Justin > Good luck, > > Phil > >> I set up some gates in the doorway of the bedroom today for the cats > >>to get a safe look at each other. Elwood was definitely interested in [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > Tonight I will let the new cat out, and put Elwood in the room and see > how that goes. Should I switch them around daily? I would do it daily. Or even half daily. > > Gates are my preferred method of introduction at the shelter and at home. > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > A short while later, I figured out how to secure ther gates properly, so > I let them have another quick meeting. I've found hook & eye latches to be about the easiest to use. The don't interfere with normal operation of the door and you can leave the eyes in the door molding in case you need to use the gates again. The small brass eyes are hardly noticeable - even if they can be seen, they don't look bad. Elwood was pawing him again, same > as earlier, but this time, the new cat came up and got a couple of good > hits in! It was hard for me to tell if they were "play" hits or "fight" > hits. Was there any hissin' 'n spittin' or yowling? How old are your cats? > Tonight I will let the new cat out, and put Elwood in the room and see > how that goes. Should I switch them around daily? Switch them a couple of times a day until you feel the cats are com?fortable -- or at least getting comfortable with each other's scents. It might take just a day or it might take several. Let the cats set the pace. Have you begun using the gates with their feeding? Put their bowls far from gates at first. If they both eat without showing signs of fear or agression, gradually move the bowls closer to the gates. Don't rush this part - a little closer each day. If either cat shows stress or fear approaching the bowls, back them up to where the cats ate comfortably. When both cats eat with the bowls touching the gates on both sides - they're in the homestretch. Once the cats approach each other peacefully and frendly and feel comfortable eating near each other -with the bowls touching the gates on both sides, you can open the lower gate so "Jake" can come out on his own in his own time and still feel secure knowing his sanctuary is right behind him. Some people use a leash and harness on the resident cat at this point, so the new cat can run back in without the resident following him. I don't. I think the resident cat perceives the harness as punishment and might associate the punishment with the new cat. If the cats are approaching each other peacefully through the gates, and eating in close proximetry to each other, I don't think there's any need for a harness. Just keep alert and blanket handy in case of agression. If there is agression, don't try to break it up because either cat could attack you in what's called "redirected agression". Throw the blanket over the agressor - or better yet, both cats. I doubt it will come to this if the cats are peaceful through the gates. I just wanted to mention it so you'll be prepared in the unlikely event it happens. > >>Justin > >>(still thinking of a name for "new cat") [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > like Elwood so I have been trying to think of something else. I may go > with that anyhow because as I get to know him, it kind of fits him. I like to give cats names that suits them physically or based on their personality. That's how I name my cats. But in a shelter, you run out of names fast. I would sit with a new cat and call her by every name I could think of that suited her. I even resorted to a star catalog for names. When the cat reacted to a name - that was it! Maybe cats don't come when we call them because they don't like the names we give them! LOL! Phil > Justin > > > Good luck, > > > > Phil <snip> > I've found hook & eye latches to be about the easiest to use. The don't > interfere with normal operation of the door and you can leave the eyes in > the door molding in case you need to use the gates again. The small brass > eyes are hardly noticeable - even if they can be seen, they don't look bad. Those would be ideal, but I am using some plastic child gates. They work well enough I suppose. > Elwood was pawing him again, same > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Was there any hissin' 'n spittin' or yowling? How old are your cats? No hissing or spitting, but Jake did a bit of yowling. Elwood is 5 months old, Jake is about 1-1/2 yrs old, but his exact age is unknown. >>Tonight I will let the new cat out, and put Elwood in the room and see >>how that goes. Should I switch them around daily? [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > cats are peaceful through the gates. I just wanted to mention it so you'll > be prepared in the unlikely event it happens. Thanks for all of the suggestions. I fed them by the gates last night, and they didn't seem to mind all that much. I will try moving their bowls closer tonight. >>>>Justin >>>>(still thinking of a name for "new cat") [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Maybe cats don't come when we call them because they don't like the names we > give them! LOL! LOL, I bet you are right about that! Thanks again for your help. Justin > Phil <snipped> > Maybe cats don't come when we call them because they don't like the names we > give them! LOL! Oscar comes when called. I guess I picked the right name, even if people give me weird looks when I say "Oscar" and "she" in the same breath. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!*
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